Real Estate Investing in Wenatchee, Washington (98801)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Chelan County • Population: 44,422 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98801 (Wenatchee, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Wenatchee, WA (98801)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $499,886
Avg Monthly Rent $1,732
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,800
% Renters 40.9%

Market Analysis: 98801 Wenatchee

ZIP 98801 in Wenatchee, WA carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $500K and rents of $1,732/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 98801 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within WA, ZIP 98801 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Chelan County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 98801 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Wenatchee averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Wenatchee:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,732/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Wenatchee, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Wenatchee, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$134,571/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $263,001 $1,150 3.1% +5.4% $263,001
2BR $363,733 $1,510 3.0% +6.3% $181,867
3BR $505,174 $2,080 3.0% +6.4% $168,391
4BR $611,808 $2,530 3.0% +6.4% $152,952
5BR $672,855 +6.3% $134,571

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$526K$456K$386K$315K$245K$175KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,771$1,701$1,631$1,561$1,491$1,421Jun 2021Jan 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98801 Compare?

Metric 98801 Wenatchee Wenatchee, WA Washington
Home Value $499,886 $499,886 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,732 $1,732 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98801? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 41% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98801 (Wenatchee, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Wenatchee, WA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
52%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $499,886
Monthly Rent $1,732
Price-to-Rent 24.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 5.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98801

Population: 44,422

💰 Median Household Income
$70,800
This area
$70,800
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.9%
This area
40.9%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.5%
Other/Mixed 32.9%
Hispanic/Latino 28.7%
Black/African American 0.8%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.3%
This area
17.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 98801

B+ Avg School Grade
20 Schools
18.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,096 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Abraham Lincoln Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
455 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Columbia Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
339 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John Newbery Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mission View Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Orchard Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
405 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pioneer Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
519 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A Very Good

Foothills Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A Very Good

Lewis And Clark Elementary Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A Very Good

Sunnyslope Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
A Very Good

Pinnacles Prep Charter School

📚 06 – 09 High School Charter
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,504 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chelan County Juvenile Detention Center

📚 03 – 12 High School
👥
12 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
5 Students
👨‍🏫
0.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Westside High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C+ Average

Wenatchee High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,027 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C+ Average

Valley Academy of Learning K-8

📚 K – 08 School
👥
174 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C+ Average

Special Education School

📚 Pre-K – 09 High School
👥
159 Students
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C+ Average

Open Doors Re-Engagement

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
81 Students
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C Below Average

Skill Source

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
6 Students
💰
$17,969 Per Student
C Below Average

Valley Online Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
35 Students
👨‍🏫
87.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,969 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 1,302 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wenatchee Valley College
2,819 students · 0.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,302 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strict are landlord regulations in Wenatchee, WA?

For rental operators, Wenatchee, WA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How does Wenatchee, WA rate as a rental market?

Investors tracking Wenatchee, WA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $500K median home values and $1,732/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting steady returns.

What kind of tenants rent in Wenatchee, WA?

The renter base in Wenatchee, WA is reasonable for the $1,732/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

Where do rents currently stand in Wenatchee, WA?

Rent in Wenatchee, WA is around $1,732/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $500K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the average home sale price in Wenatchee, WA?

Wenatchee, WA median home values land near $500K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,732/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 98801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98801 ranks in Wenatchee, WA

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